“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” – Psalm 34:19

I’ve been holding back from sharing written thoughts on this verse for about a month now.  Maybe it’s because what I wrote was so personal, about how a close friend of mine (whose character reminded me of Jesus) died of cancer 10 years ago, and what I wrote was more for me than for you.  Maybe it’s because the “afflictions of the righteous” raise all kinds of thoughts. After all, who is righteous?  And, why does God allow seemingly good or innocent people to suffer in the worst ways imaginable?  These questions stir all kinds of emotions in me towards God.  My natural mind gets a little worked up when I think about these questions.  I feel confused by the suffering He permits. Why? Why? Why?????!!!!!

While the Bible explains some things about suffering to me, it does not explain to me why God permits it. 

So, when I read “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all”, I can’t help but think about the tragic and horrific suffering people experience.  

My natural mind struggles to reconcile suffering against the innocence and character I want to ascribe to humanity.  Does God not love the child who dies a tragic death?  Does God not love person who never had much of a chance to prosper?

These difficult, but very real questions challenge our perception of God.  Is He near or is He far?  Is He even at all?

I cannot answer why God allows suffering.  What I do know, however, is that this life on earth is tragic, at times.  Not just sad…TRAGIC.   I believe such is the contrast we are to grasp in our faith…that Heaven will be so much better.  If life on earth was always good, perhaps we would think that life on earth is Heaven.  I’m reminded that Heaven is soo much better than what’s here on earth.

When my friend died, I was reminded of one thing.  Death is not the ultimate affliction.   Neither is suffering.  As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15, “Death has lost its sting.”  This is because by faith we are saved from the ultimate affliction: eternal separation from God (Ephesians 2:8).  This faith is a gift.  It is not something we toil for.  It’s not something we earn.   It’s not something we are naturally born into.  It’s not something we can boast about.  By faith alone we are counted as righteous (Romans 4).  God breathes this faith into us.  We can’t even take credit for believing in Him. It all comes from Him.  Thus, when David writes in Psalm 34 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous”, scripture explains that the righteous are those whom God has breathed upon and elected.

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”  God delivers the righteous out of every affliction, including the ultimate affliction – eternal separation from God.

Is God breathing upon you?  Is He calling you closer to Him?   He does not waste His breath.   If you hear Him calling, it’s because He wants you to hear Him.   It’s because He has breathed His grace upon your ear to hear Him.   May we hear well.

Live the life (God meant for you to live).